Agents arrest 20 convicted sex offenders; 11 gang members

September 3, 2013 ·
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EDINBURG, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Rio Grande Valley Sector arrested 20 convicted sex offenders, who were illegally present in the United States, and 11 members of notorious street gangs throughout the month of August.

The majority of the sex offenders have convictions for sexual assault crimes involving children. Some of the more egregious offenses include: rape; child molestation; indecency with a child; sex abuse of a child; lewd acts with a child; and willful cruelty to a child.

Additionally, agents arrested 10 members of the Mara Salvatrucha gang, or MS-13, a notorious transnational criminal gang that started in Los Angeles. Agents also apprehended one member of the 18th Street gang. The 18th Street gang also originated in Los Angeles and is considered to be that city’s largest transnational criminal gang.

“Border Patrol agents have a responsibility to protect this nation from all threats,” Chief Patrol Agent Rosendo Hinojosa said. “Those threats are not always posed by terrorists or drug smugglers; sometimes they take the form of sex offenders and gang members. By keeping these dangerous criminals off our streets, agents are helping to ensure the safety of our children and the security of our communities.”